Media releases

Multi-million project

A multi-million dollar upgrade to Hervey Bay Airport will take-off early thanks to a $9.1 million grant from the Coalition Government to fast-track the project.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated the Fraser Coast Regional Council on its successful application to round 3 of the Building Better Regions Fund.

“This project is a great outcome for the Hervey Bay community as it is expected to bring more than 500 jobs into the local economy,” Mr Pitt said.

“The $26.6 million project will deliver both stages of a two-stage redevelopment of the Hervey Bay Airport with improvement of all infrastructure for the main runway and taxiways.

“It also includes the construction of a specialised aviation and associated supply chain industry subdivision to house growing local aviation activities.

“Its projects like this that make our regional communities even better places to live, work and raise a family and I’m excited to see the positive difference this funding will make to the community,” he said.

The development of the Hervey Bay airport is a key economic driver for the Fraser Coast, Mayor George Seymour said.

“The airport is an important gateway for friends, family and tourists to visit the Fraser Coast, as well as an important link for our residents leaving the area for business and travel.

“It is also an important feature in being able to attract future residents, especially skilled workers who will be needed for our growing health, education and aviation sectors.

“This funding will kick start the first step in a staged $26 million redevelopment of the airport to create a new aviation subdivision to house an aviation sector including aircraft construction and support industries.

“We believe the increase in aviation activity will create jobs in the aviation sector as well as helping to grow the regional tourism industry.”

The first stage includes work on the existing runway and the development of the Avion Precinct.

Work on the existing runway covers pavement reconstruction, new lights and rejuvenating the taxiway to the terminal used by daily commercial flights.

Work for the Avion Precinct includes taxiways to connect the runway to the precinct, earthworks for internal roads and services to develop the first five airside lots for aviation-based businesses.

“The development of the project has been a combined effort of staff and Councillors over a number of years,” Cr Seymour said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to ensuring Australia’s regions remain strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term.

“We are supporting our regions through investing in important local infrastructure, as well as great community-building and planning initiatives under the Building Better Regions Fund and other Government priorities such as the Regional Growth Fund and our decentralisation agenda,” Mr McCormack said.

“In this round we are also investing more than $70 million in regional tourism infrastructure, to support those many regional communities that rely on tourism to bolster their economy.

“We have seen fantastic outcomes from the first two rounds, and today’s announcement continues our commitment to unlocking the economic potential of regional Australia and ensuring our regions continue to thrive.”